Camera mounting assembly

ABSTRACT

A camera mounting assembly is configured to couple to a camera housing. The camera mounting assembly includes a plurality of indentations configured to allow for the passage of light through the indentations and upon the image sensor of a camera enclosed by the camera housing. The camera mounting assembly can further include recessed channels within an inner-front surface of the camera mounting assembly configured to further allow for the passage of light through the indentations, through the recessed channels, and upon the image sensor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/666,807, filed Nov. 1, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. ______, which claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/554,925, filed Nov.2, 2011, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to camera mounting assemblies, and morespecifically, to a camera mounting assembly configured to maximize lightreceived by an image sensor.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Digital camera technology has advanced in recent years. Cameras havebecome cheaper to make and purchase, buoying camera ownership amongconsumers. As consumers become used to better and more advanced cameratechnology, the expectations of image quality among consumers hasincreased. Minor image imperfections that were previously overlooked byconsumers are becoming increasingly noticed, and the demand for evenhigher quality image capture has increased accordingly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed embodiments have other advantages and features which willbe more readily apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure (or “FIG.”) 1A illustrates a perspective view of a cameramounting assembly, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 1B illustrates an additional perspective view of a camera mountingassembly, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 1C illustrates an additional perspective view of a camera mountingassembly, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view of a rear of the cameramounting assembly, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a camera for use with the camera mounting assembly,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an overhead view of a camera mounting assemblyconfigured to optimize the light incident upon an image sensor by usingindented sections and recessed channels, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a camera mounting assemblyconfigured to optimize the light incident upon an image sensor by usingindented sections and recessed channels, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a rear perspective view of a camera mounting assemblyconfigured to optimize the light incident on an image sensor by usingindented sections and recessed channels, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates the path of light rays over the inner-front surfaceof the camera mounting assembly through the circular hole in theinner-front surface of the assembly and incident upon a camera's imagesensor, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates another view of the path of light rays over theinner-front surface of the camera mounting assembly through the circularhole in the inner-front surface of the assembly and incident upon acamera's image sensor, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a view of a camera mounting assembly configured toaccommodate two camera lenses and associated image sensors via separatecircular holes in the inner-front surface of the assembly and tooptimize the light incident upon the image sensors by using indentedsections, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates another view of the camera mounting assemblyconfigured to accommodate two camera lenses and associated image sensorsvia separate circular holes in the inner-front surface of the assemblyand to optimize the light incident upon the image sensors by usingindented sections, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates another view of the camera mounting assemblyconfigured to accommodate the passage of light to multiple cameras viathe inner-front surface of the assembly according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An example camera system includes a camera and external camera housingfor enclosing the camera. FIGS. 1A-C illustrate various views of thecamera system in accordance with one embodiment. The camera systemincludes, among other components, a camera housing 100. In oneembodiment, a first housing portion 102 includes a front face with foursides (e.g., a top side, bottom side, left side, and right side)structured to form a cavity that receives a camera (e.g., a still cameraor video camera).

In one embodiment, the camera housing 100 has a small form factor (e.g.,a height of approximately 4 to 6 centimeters, a width of approximately 5to 7 centimeters, and a depth of approximately 2 to 4 centimeters), andis lightweight (e.g., approximately 50 to 150 grams). The camera housing100 can be rigid (or substantially rigid) (e.g., plastic, metal,fiberglass, etc.) or pliable (or substantially pliable) (e.g., leather,vinyl, neoprene, etc.). In one embodiment, the camera housing 100 may beappropriately configured for use in various elements. For example, thecamera housing 100 may comprise a waterproof enclosure that protects acamera from water when used, for example, while surfing or scuba diving.

Portions of the camera housing 100 may include exposed areas to allow auser to manipulate buttons on the camera that are associated with thecamera functionality. Alternatively, such areas may be covered with apliable material to allow the user to manipulate the buttons through thecamera housing 100. For example, in one embodiment the top face of thecamera housing 100 includes an outer shutter button 112 structured sothat a shutter button of the camera is substantially aligned with theouter shutter button when the camera is secured within the camerahousing 100. The shutter button of the camera is operationally coupledto the outer shutter button 112 so that pressing the outer shutterbutton 112 allows the user to operate the camera shutter button. In oneembodiment, the front face of the camera housing 100 includes a lenswindow 104 structured so that a lens of the camera is substantiallyaligned with the lens windows 104 when the camera is secured within thecamera housing 100. The lens window 104 can be adapted for use with aconventional lens, a wide angle lens, a flat lens, or any otherspecialized camera lens. In this embodiment, the lens window 104comprises a waterproof seal so as to maintain the waterproof aspect ofthe housing 100.

In one embodiment, the camera housing 100 includes one or more securingstructures 120 for securing the camera housing 100 to one of a varietyof external mounting devices. For example, FIGS. 1A and 1B illustratethe camera housing secured to a clip-style mount 122. In otherembodiments, the camera housing 100 can be secured to a different typeof external mounting structure.

In one embodiment, a thermal conductor 106 is configured to at leastpartially surround the lens window 104. The thermal conductor 106comprises a material with a thermal conductivity equal to or higher thanthe thermal conductivity of the housing 100, such as copper or aluminum.The thermal conductor 106 extends into an interior of the first housingportion 102 and makes contact with a thermally conductive lens ringpositioned around the lens of the camera. When the thermal conductor 106is in contact with the lens ring on the camera, conductive heat transfermay occur between the thermal conductor 106 and the lens ring of thecamera.

An insulating plate 108 may be positioned to at least partially cover afront surface of the thermal conductor 106. The insulating plate 108 maycomprise a thermally insulating material, such as plastic, and may beaffixed to the thermal conductor 106 by one or more screws 116 or anyother suitable fastening mechanism. In one embodiment, the insulatingplate 108 may protect users of the camera from incidental contact withthe thermal conductor 106, which may become hot during use. In oneembodiment, the insulating plate 108 may have a larger diameter than thethermal conductor 106, such that the thermal conductor 106 is partiallyrecessed under the insulating plate 108, to further prevent incidentaluser contact with the conductor ring 106. Thus, in this embodiment, mostof the heat is permitted to escape around the perimeter of the thermalconductor 106 instead of through the front face, thereby reducing thelikelihood of direct contact from the user.

The described housing 100 may also be adapted for a wider range ofdevices of varying shapes, sizes and dimensions besides cameras. Forexample, an expansion module may be attached to housing 100 to addexpanded features to electronic devices such as cell phones, musicplayers, PDAs, GPS units, or other portable electronic devices.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of camera housing 100, illustrating asecond housing portion 202. The second housing portion 202 detachablycouples with the first housing portion 102 opposite the front face ofthe first housing portion. The first housing portion 102 and secondhousing portion 202 are collectively structured to enclose a camerawithin the cavity when the second housing portion 202 is secured to thefirst housing portion 102 in a closed position.

In one embodiment, the second housing portion 202 comprises a door 204that allows the camera to be removed from the housing 100. The door 204pivots around a hinge 210 that allows the door 204 to be opened or shut.In one embodiment, a first fastening structure 214 located on the topface of the camera housing 100 detachably couples to a second fasteningstructure 216 on the door 204. The fastening structures 214, 216 securethe door 204 to the first portion 102 of the camera housing 100 in aclosed position when coupled, as illustrated in FIG. 2. In oneembodiment, the fastening structure 214 comprises a hook-shaped lateralbar and the fastening structure 216 comprises an L-shaped bar. Thefastening structure 214 can pivot upwards to allow the door 204 to closeand can then be pressed down around the fastening structure 216 to holdthe door 204 in the closed position. In different embodiments, fasteningstructures for securing the door 204 can include, for example, a buttonassembly, a buckle assembly, a clip assembly, a hook and loop assembly,a magnet assembly, a ball and catch assembly, and an adhesive assembly,or any other type of securing mechanism.

In one alternative embodiment, the hinge 210 is instead located on thetop face of the housing 100 and the fastening structures 214, 216 areinstead located on the bottom face of the housing 100. Alternatively,the hinge 210 and fastening structures 214, 216 may be located onopposite side faces of the camera housing 100.

In one embodiment, the housing 100 includes a watertight seal so thatthe housing 100 is waterproof when the door 204 is shut. For example, inone embodiment, the door 204 includes a sealing structure positioned oninterior edges of the door 204. The sealing structure provides awatertight seal between the first portion of the camera housing 102 andthe door 204 when the first securing structure 214 on the top face ofthe camera housing 100 is coupled to the second securing structure 216on the top edge of the door 204.

In one embodiment, an outer hinge structure 206 on the bottom edge ofthe second housing portion 202 detachably couples to an inner hingestructure 208 on the bottom edge of the first housing portion 102 toform the hinge 210. For example, in one embodiment, the outer hingestructure 206 comprises one or more hook-shaped protrusions structuredto securely fasten to a rod-shaped member of the inner hinge structure208. Other mechanisms for coupling the second housing portion 202 to thehousing 100 may also be used in various alternative embodiments. Inother embodiments, the second housing portion 202 may be permanentlyattached to the first housing portion 102.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of a camera 300 for use withthe external camera housing system. The camera 300 is adapted to fitwithin the enclosure of the external housing 100 discussed above. Asillustrated, the camera 300 includes a lens 302. The lens 302 isconfigured to house an image sensor with the lens behind, for instance,lens glass. The lens may be surrounded by a conductive materialthermally coupled to internal electronics of the camera 300 and adaptedto dissipate heat produced by the internal electronics. When placedwithin the housing 100, the lens 302 is inserted within the lens window104 of the housing 100, and the lens ring can make physical contact withan interior portion of a thermal conductor 106 of the camera housing100, thereby providing a path for heat to dissipate externally to thehousing 100.

The external camera housing may comprise a camera mounting assembly, asshown in FIGS. 4-6 and described herein. The assembly 400 may beconfigured to retro-fit existing camera housings, or may be incorporatedinto new camera housings. Retrofitting the assembly 400 to fit anexisting housing may require removing an original lens ring or lenshousing (such as the lens window 104) and replacing it with a cameramounting 400 assembly configured to optimize the light incident upon animage sensor. Reference is made herein to a quadrilateral-shaped cameramounting assembly, as shown in FIGS. 4-6, though it should be noted thatin other embodiments, camera mounting assemblies of other shapes (suchas circular-shaped assemblies, ovular-shaped assemblies,octagonal-shaped assemblies, and the like) may be used according to theprinciples described herein. The mechanisms used to attach the originallens ring to the housing may beneficially be used to attach aquadrilateral-shaped camera mounting assembly to the housing. Forexample, a lens ring attached to the housing via a plurality of screwsinserted into reciprocal screw holes may be replaced with thequadrilateral-shaped camera mounting assembly, which may be secured tothe housing using screws inserted into the same reciprocal screw holes.

The quadrilateral-shaped camera mounting assembly 400 may be square,rectangular, semi-rectangular, or any other four-sided shape in order toaccommodate image sensors configured to capture light passing through arectangular-shaped lens aperture and incident upon the image sensor,resulting in rectangular-shaped digital images representative of thecaptured light. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-6, the mountingassembly 400 is rectangular. The quadrilateral-shaped camera mountingassembly 400 (or “camera mounting assembly”) may include a circularthrough-hole or opening 410 in the inner-front surface of the assemblywhich permits the camera mounting assembly 400 to be placed over the topof a circular camera lens or lens securing structure, allowing thecircular camera lens to protrude through the back surface of theassembly. In other embodiments, the through-hole or opening 410 in theinner-front surface of the mounting assembly is shaped or otherwiseconfigured to accommodate camera lenses or camera lens securingstructures of other shapes.

Traditional camera mounting assemblies block light that would otherwisebe incident upon the corners of a rectangular image sensor, preventingthe image sensor from capturing such light, and reducing the amount oflight information represented in a resulting in a digital image. Forexample, the corners of such an image may be darkened, blurry, ordistorted as a result of light being blocked by a mounting assembly thatotherwise would be incident upon and captured by the corners of theimage sensor. The camera mounting assembly 400 beneficially includes oneor more channels 420 recessed within the inner-front surface of theassembly relative to the inner-front surface of the assembly to allowthe corners of the image sensor to receive unobstructed light. In oneembodiment, the camera mounting assembly 400 includes a recessed channel420 extending from a perimeter or edge of the inner-front surface of themounting assembly toward the center of the inner-front surface of theassembly. For instance, each channel can extend toward a through-hole410 in the assembly for accommodating a camera lens or camera lenssecuring structure. The width, depth, and length of the recessedchannels 420 may be configured according to the dimensions of the camera(element 300 in FIG. 3), camera lens, the camera lens securingstructure, the image sensor, and/or the camera mounting assembly 400. Inone embodiment, the dimensions of the inner-front surface of the cameramounting 400 assembly are substantially proportional to the dimensionsof the images captured by the image sensor.

The camera mounting assembly 400 may include four sides 430 coupled tothe inner-front surface of the assembly and protruding from theinner-front surface of the assembly: a top side, a left side, a bottomside, and a right side. The sides collectively form an assemblyperimeter protruding from and relative to the inner-front surface of theassembly. The perimeter may include indented sections 440 of reducedheight, width, or volume to maximize light flow to the corners of theimage sensor. In other words, the corners formed by the intersection ofany two adjacent sides may be indented relative to the protrudingdistance or height of the sides 430 from the inner-front surface of theassembly, forming a top-left indentation, a top-right indentation, abottom-left indentation, and a bottom-right indentation. In embodimentsin which the mounting assembly is circular, the mounting assembly caninclude a circular perimeter coupled to the inner-front surface of thecamera assembly and protruding out from the inner-front surface of thecamera assembly. In these embodiments, the circular edge can includeindentations substantially aligned with the corners of the image sensorof a camera coupled to the mounting assembly. In one embodiment, therecessed channels 420 substantially align with the indentations 440. Theassembly 400 may have various other combinations of indentations 440and/or recessed channels 420.

As displayed in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the camera mounting assembly400 can include a front panel 450 made of glass, or any othertransparent, partially transparent, or optical material. The front panel450 can be coupled to the mounting assembly 400 and held in place by thesides 430 of the mounting assembly 400. The sides 430 of the mountingassembly can secure the front panel 450 by protruding over the topsurface of the front panel 450 towards the center of the front panel450. In one embodiment, the front panel 450 is securely coupled to theassembly 400 so that a watertight seal is formed between the front panel450 and the body of the assembly 400. In addition, the assembly 400 canform a watertight seal with the camera housing, allowing for theunderwater operation of a camera within the housing coupled to theassembly 400. In one embodiment, the top surface of the sides of theassembly 400 at the indentation 440 forms a substantially smooth surfacewith the front panel 450. FIG. 6 illustrates a rear perspective view ofthe camera mounting assembly 400 as described in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIGS. 7 and 8 display the passage of light 700 from the indentedsections 720 in the sides 710 of a rectangular camera mounting assembly400 through the recessed channels 730 and incident upon a camera's imagesensor 740. Unlike with traditional camera mounted assemblies, theindented sections 720, formed at the intersection of two adjacent sides710, allow light rays 700 to pass unobstructed, and permit the cameraimage sensor to capture optimal light information with the corners of arectangular image sensor 740. The addition of recessed channels 730 intothe inner-front surface of the assembly 400 also increases the amount oflight information available to the corners of the image sensor 740.

The camera mounting assembly may be configured to accommodate more thanone camera, as displayed in FIGS. 9-11. The multi-camera mountingassembly illustrated in FIGS. 9-11 is configured for 3-dimensional(“3D”) video capture requiring simultaneous image acquisition from twocameras. If one camera, positioned upside down, is placed beside asecond camera, the camera mounting assembly 900 may be configured toaccommodate two, circular camera lenses and may comprise a widerinner-front surface with two holes or openings, a left opening 910 a anda right opening 910 b (collectively, “openings 910”), for accommodatingthe two camera lenses. In such an embodiment, the camera assembly 900can include four recessed channels within the inner-front surface of themounting assembly (not illustrated in the embodiments of FIGS. 9-11),such that two recessed channels run from the outer edge of each lenshole to a respective corner of the inner-front surface of the mountingassembly associated with each lens hold. It should be noted that inother embodiments, the mounting assembly described in FIGS. 9-11 canaccommodate two cameras inserted into a housing right-side up.Alternative embodiments can allow cameras to be vertically stacked, andcan be configured to allow for multi-camera image capture (as opposed to3D image capture).

Continuing with this embodiment, the camera mounting assembly caninclude four protruding sides 920 coupled to the inner-front surface ofthe assembly, and can include an indentation 930 at each corner formedby adjacent sides 920. For example, a top-left and bottom-left corner ofthe mounting assembly sides can be indented to prevent the obstructionof light incident upon the top-left corner and the bottom-left corner,respectively, of an image sensor of a left camera lens protrudingthrough the left opening 910 a, and a top-right and bottom-right cornerof the mounting assembly sides can be indented to prevent theobstruction of light incident upon the top-right corner and bottom-rightcorner, respectively, of an image sensor of a right camera lensprotruding through the right opening 910 b. FIG. 10 shows a perspectiveview of the camera mounting assembly of FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 shows aline-drawing overhead view of the camera mounting assembly of 1. 9.

It should be noted that although the mounting assembly is described as aseparate component configured to couple to a camera or camera housing,the principles described herein may equally apply directly to a camerabody itself. For example, the indentations and/or recessed channels, anddescribed herein, may be incorporated into a camera body, for instancein a lens ring or front camera surface. In such embodiments, the cameraitself may be waterproof, allowing for use underwater.

As used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment”means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in variousplaces in the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment. The term variation is used interchangeably withembodiment.

Some embodiments may be described using the expressions “coupled”,“paired”, and “connected” along with their derivatives. For example,some embodiments may be described using the term “coupled” to indicatethat two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact.The terms “coupled” and “paired,” however, may also mean that two ormore elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet stillco-operate or interact with each other. The embodiments are not limitedin this context.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary,“or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example,a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true(or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or notpresent) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (orpresent).

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elementsand components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely forconvenience and to give a general sense of the invention. Thisdescription should be read to include one or at least one and thesingular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meantotherwise.

Upon reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will appreciatestill additional alternative structural and functional designs for amodular configurable camera system as disclosed from the principlesherein. Thus, while particular embodiments and applications have beenillustrated and described, it is to be understood that the disclosedembodiments are not limited to the precise construction and componentsdisclosed herein. Various modifications, changes and variations, whichwill be apparent to those skilled in the art, may be made in thearrangement, operation and details of the method and apparatus disclosedherein without departing from the spirit and scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera housing comprising: an enclosure bodyconfigured to enclose a camera, the enclosure body comprising a topface, a bottom face, a left face, a right face, and a front face, thebottom face comprising an inner hinge structure, and the top facecomprising a first fastening structure; an enclosure door comprising anouter hinge structure on a first edge of the enclosure door and a secondfastening structure on a second edge of the enclosure door opposite thefirst edge, the outer hinge structure and the inner hinge structureforming a hinge when coupled such that the enclosure door is pivotallyattached to the enclosure body about the hinge, and the second fasteningstructure detachably coupling to the first fastening structure such thatthe enclosure door is secured to the enclosure body in a closed positionwhen the first fastening structure is coupled to the second fasteningstructure; and a camera mounting assembly coupled to the front face ofthe enclosure body, the camera mounting assembly comprising an openingwithin an inner-front surface of the camera mounting assembly configuredto be placed over a camera lens of a camera when the camera is enclosedwithin the enclosure body when the enclosure door is secured to theenclosure body in the closed position, the camera mounting assemblyfurther comprising an indentation at each of four corners of the cameramounting assembly, the inner-front surface of the camera mountingassembly including a plurality of recessed channels each associated withan indentation, each indentation and associated recessed channelconfigured to allow for the passage of light through the indentation andassociated recessed channel and incident upon the camera lens.
 2. Thecamera housing of claim 1, wherein the camera mounting assembly isrectangular.
 3. The camera housing of claim 1, wherein the cameramounting assembly is a square.
 4. The camera housing of claim 1, whereinthe camera mounting assembly includes four walls, and wherein eachindentation is formed by reducing a protruding height of two walls at anintersection of the two walls relative to the inner-front surface of thecamera mounting assembly.
 5. A camera housing comprising: an enclosurebody configured to enclose a camera, the enclosure body comprising a topface, a bottom face, a left face, a right face, and a front face, thebottom face comprising an inner hinge structure, and the top facecomprising a first fastening structure; an enclosure door comprising anouter hinge structure on a first edge of the enclosure door and a secondfastening structure on a second edge of the enclosure door opposite thefirst edge, the outer hinge structure and the inner hinge structureforming a hinge when coupled such that the enclosure door is pivotallyattached to the enclosure body about the hinge, and the second fasteningstructure detachably coupling to the first fastening structure such thatthe enclosure door is secured to the enclosure body in a closed positionwhen the first fastening structure is coupled to the second fasteningstructure; and a camera mounting assembly coupled to the front face ofthe enclosure body, the camera mounting assembly comprising an openingwithin an inner-front surface of the camera mounting assembly configuredto be placed over a camera lens of a camera when the camera is enclosedwithin the enclosure body when the enclosure door is secured to theenclosure body in the closed position, the camera mounting assemblyfurther comprising an indentation at each of four corners of the cameramounting assembly, each indentation configured to allow for the passageof light through the indentation incident upon the camera lens.
 6. Thecamera housing of claim 1, wherein the camera mounting assembly isrectangular.
 7. The camera housing of claim 1, wherein the cameramounting assembly is a square.
 8. The camera housing of claim 1, whereinthe camera mounting assembly includes four walls, and wherein eachindentation is formed by reducing a protruding height of two walls at anintersection of the two walls relative to the inner-front surface of thecamera mounting assembly.
 9. A camera housing comprising: an enclosurebody configured to enclose a camera, the enclosure body comprising a topface, a bottom face, a left face, a right face, and a front face, thebottom face comprising an inner hinge structure, and the top facecomprising a first fastening structure; an enclosure door comprising anouter hinge structure on a first edge of the enclosure door and a secondfastening structure on a second edge of the enclosure door opposite thefirst edge, the outer hinge structure and the inner hinge structureforming a hinge when coupled such that the enclosure door is pivotallyattached to the enclosure body about the hinge, and the second fasteningstructure detachably coupling to the first fastening structure such thatthe enclosure door is secured to the enclosure body in a closed positionwhen the first fastening structure is coupled to the second fasteningstructure; and a camera mounting assembly coupled to the front face ofthe enclosure body, the camera mounting assembly comprising a top side,a bottom side, a left side, and a right side, the top side, bottom side,left side, and right side collectively forming a rectangle, therectangle comprising rounded corners, the camera mounting assemblyconfigured to align with a camera lens of a camera when the camera isenclosed within the enclosure body, the camera further comprising animage sensor within the camera lens, the rounded corners structured toenable light to pass through a front face of the camera mountingassembly, through the camera lens, and incident upon the image sensor.